Planning Your Network

Infrastructure Network Types

An Infrastructure network is formed by several stations and one or more Access Points (APs), with the stations within a set distance from the AP. Figure 1 depicts a typical Infrastructure network topology.

There are three infrastructure network setups that are commonly used. It is a good idea to understand the possible network setups and configuration requirements before planning your wireless network.

Type 1. The simplest wireless infrastructure network is composed of one Access Point (AP) and a few wireless Stations communicating via radio waves (Figure 1). This setup enables mobile stations to communicate with each other. The main benefit of this type of network is to extend the range of the network. If an AP is placed between the stations, the radio transmission distance is effectively doubled since Wireless Computer-1 can talk to Wireless Computer-2 through the AP. The drawback of this configuration is that the effective bandwidth is halved since all communication is relayed by the AP.

 

 

Access Point
Wireless

 

Wireless

Computer-1

 

Computer-2

 

Figure 1. Simple Wireless Infrastructure Network

Type 2. The next simplest wireless network is very similar to the Type 1 network. This time the AP is connected to a wired Ethernet network as a node. In this configuration the AP is effectively performing as a bridge between the wired Ethernet and the wireless networks (Figure 2).

Wireless users have the same access to the network resources as they would have if they were wired. This type of network is usually used to extend an existing network into a difficult to wire or a roaming environment.

InstantWave High Rate 11Mbps Access Point 3